When Friends of the Farms asked Zero Waste for guidance on having as landfill-free a fundraising dinner as possible earlier this month, little did anyone imagine that the trash output would fit into a single plastic grocery bag. A big reason for their success: all of the restaurants represented used compostable dishes, cutlery and cups that Jeff Shepard, co-owner of Blackbird Bakery, had ordered for the event. Patrons filled two 96-gallon yard waste containers to the brim! An equal-sized recycling receptacle was also jam-packed with wine bottles, paper tablecloths and nongreasy pizza boxes. The oyster shells, too dense to break down at the commercial composting facility, were instead returned to Puget Sound to become barnacle housing.

There are two key ingredients in arranging a (close to) waste-free event. 1) Unless you plan on using washable tableware, such as Green Drinks does, make sure vendors use compostables. 2) Recruit monitors for the disposal station to assist guests in sorting their recyclables, compostables and trash into the proper containers. Friends of the Farms was able to find these volunteers by making the request in an email to supporters.  

Following that advice, there are two upcoming community events for which Zero Waste is seeking volunteers to man the waste stations. It really is a fun way to engage with the public. Please contact Diane Landry at fallschurchbiker@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping at the Taste of Lynwood, September 17, or the Harvest Fair, September 25. Thank you!

We're almost there!  Please help us purchase Big Belly containers for Winslow Way.  Support a permanent solution to overflowing garbage and lack of public recycling on Winslow Way!

We have almost reached our goal of $42,000 with just $1000 remaining. A huge thank you goes to our major contributors: Town and Country Market, Eileen Black with John L. Scott Real estate, the B.I. Rotary, The City of Bainbridge, Sustainable Bainbridge, and Waxie Sanitary Supply. (Eileen Black was the very first purchaser of a Big Belly for the Farmers Market in 2007!) We also want to thank the B.I. Chamber of Commerce, Bay Hay and Feed, Café Nola, the Bainbridge Community Foundation and the many, many community members who have made this possible. Thank you all -- without you it would have not been possible.